Apple today announced Apple TV+ with Steven Spielberg, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston and more

March 25, 2019

The following is a press release from Apple:

Apple today announced Apple TV+, the new home for the world’s most creative storytellers featuring exclusive original shows, movies and documentaries, coming this fall. Apple TV+, Apple’s original video subscription service, will feature a brand new slate of programming from the world’s most celebrated creative artists, including Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Octavia Spencer, J.J. Abrams, Jason Momoa, M. Night Shyamalan, Jon M. Chu and more. On the Apple TV app, subscribers will enjoy inspiring and authentic stories with emotional depth and compelling characters from all walks of life, ad-free and on demand.

“We’re honored that the absolute best lineup of storytellers in the world – both in front of and behind the camera – are coming to Apple TV+,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “We’re thrilled to give viewers a sneak peek of Apple TV+ and cannot wait for them to tune in starting this fall. Apple TV+ will be home to some of the highest quality original storytelling that TV and movie lovers have seen yet.”

Additionally, Apple debuted the all-new Apple TV app and Apple TV channels coming in May 2019. The all-new Apple TV app brings together the different ways to discover and watch shows, movies, sports, news and more in one app across iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, smart TVs and streaming devices. Users can subscribe to and watch new Apple TV channels – paying for only services they want, like HBO, SHOWTIME and Starz – all on demand, available on and offline, with incredible picture quality and sound; enjoy sports, news and network TV from cable and satellite providers as well as purchase or rent iTunes movies and TV shows all within the new, personalized Apple TV app.

Beginning in May, customers can subscribe to Apple TV channels à la carte and watch them in the Apple TV app, with no additional apps, accounts or passwords required. Apple TV channels include popular services such as HBO, Starz, SHOWTIME, CBS All Access, Smithsonian Channel, EPIX, Tastemade, Noggin and new services like MTV Hits, with more to be added over time around the world.

The new Apple TV app personalizes what viewers love to watch across their existing apps and services while developing a secure and comprehensive understanding of users’ viewing interests. The app will offer suggestions for shows and movies from over 150 streaming apps, including Amazon Prime and Hulu, as well as pay-TV services such as Canal+, Charter Spectrum, DIRECTV NOW and PlayStation Vue. Optimum and Suddenlink from Altice will be added later this year.*

Additionally, the Apple TV app will become the new home to the hundreds of thousands of movies and TV shows currently available for purchase or rent in the iTunes Store.

Availability

Pricing and availability for the Apple TV+ video subscription service will be announced later this fall.

The all-new Apple TV app is coming to iPhone, iPad and Apple TV customers in over 100 countries with a free software update this May, and to Mac this fall.

Through Family Sharing, users can share Apple TV+ and subscriptions to Apple TV channels.

The Apple TV app will be available on Samsung smart TVs beginning this spring and on Amazon Fire TV, LG, Roku, Sony and VIZIO platforms in the future.

Later this year, customers with eligible VIZIO, Samsung, LG and Sony smart TVs will be able to effortlessly play videos and other content from their iPhone or iPad directly to their smart TVs with AirPlay 2 support.

Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple TV. Apple’s four software platforms – iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS – provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay and iCloud. Apple’s more than 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

Editor’s note: The shows on Apple TV+ include:

  • Steven Spielberg’s reboot of the “Amazing Stories” anthology
  • Oprah Winfrey projects, including a documentary titled “Toxic Labor” about workplace harassment; a documentary (title to be announced) about mental health; and book club-oriented program whose title is to be announced.
  • “The Morning Show,” a drama series about morning television, starring Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon and Steve Carell, with Aniston and Witherspoon among the executive producers
  • “See,” a post-apocalyptic drama series starring Jason Momoa and Alfre Woodard
  • “Little Voice,” a musical drama series, executive produced by J.J. Abrams, with original songs written by Sara Bareilles
  • “Peanuts” content, based on the beloved comic-strip characters
  • “My Glory Was I Had Such Friends,” starring Jennifer Garner and executive produced by J.J. Abrams
  • “Swagger,” a drama series based on the life of basketball star Kevin Durant, with Durant executive producing the show with Ron Howard and Brian Grazer
  • “Defending Jacob,” a drama series starring and executive produced by Chris Evans, about a father whose teenage son is suspected of killing a classmate
  • “Pachinko,” a drama series based on Min Jin Lee’s book, with Soo Hugh as the showrunner
  • A comedy series (title to be announced) about video-game company, executive produced by “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” co-stars Rob McElhenney and Charlie Day
  • “Are Your Sleeping,” a drama series about podcast affects a cold murder case, starring Octavia Spencer, Lizzy Caplan and Aaron Paul
  • “Dickinson,” a drama series about Emily Dickinson, starring Hailee Steinfeld
  • “Bastards,” a drama series about war veterans, starring Richard Gere
  • A drama series (title to be announced) about CIA operative Amaryllis Fox, starring and executive produced by Brie Larson
  • “Little America,” a comedy series about immigrants, executive produced by Oscar-nominated “The Big Sick” writers Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon
  • “Helpsters,” a children’s show from Sesame Workshop
  • “Calls,” an American remake of a French drama series that does reenactments of 911 calls
  • “For All Mankind,” a space drama series starring Joel Kinnaman
  • “Central Park,” an animated series from “Bob’s Burgers” creator Loren Bouchard, with a voice cast that includes Kristen Bell, Tituss Burgess, Daveed Diggs, Josh Gad, Kathryn Hahn, Leslie Odom Jr. and Stanley Tucci.
  • “Homes,” a docuseries about unusual homes
  • “Losing Earth,” a possible drama or docuseries about climate change
  • “Shantaram,” a drama series about an escaped prisoner from Australia who’s hiding out in India, from executive producer/screenwriter Eric Warren Singer (“American Hustle”)
  • “Time Bandits,” a fantasy comedy series from executive producer/director Taika Waititi, based on Terry Gilliam’s 1981 film of the same title
  • A still-untitled drama/thriller series from executive producer M. Night Shyamalan, with a cast that includes Lauren Ambrose, Rupert Grint and Toby Kebbell
  • A still-untitled drama series from Oscar-winning director Damien Chazelle, with the show’s plot and cast to be announced
  • A still-untitled sci-fi series from executive producer Simon Kinberg, who has written several “X-Men” movies
  • A still-untitled mystery drama series from executive producer/director Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians”), based on real-life pre-teen reporter Hilde Lysiak (played by Brooklynn Prince), with Jim Sturgess co-starring as her father

SOURCE: Variety

*Network and streaming app availability may vary by country.

2019 ACM Awards: Luke Combs, Ashley McBryde, LANCO win in categories for new artists

March 25, 2019

ACM Awards

The Academy of Country Music revealed the winners of the new artist categories for the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards, Country Music’s Party of the Year. Luke Combs, LANCO and Ashley McBryde have been named New Male Artist of the Year, New Vocal Group of the Year and New Female Artist of the Year, respectively. The winners each received a surprise phone call from 14-time ACM Award winner, two-time ACM Entertainer of the Year and current ACM Award nominee Carrie Underwood, who won the 2005 New Female Vocalist category at the 2006 ACM Awards.

These awards mark the first-ever ACM Award wins for Combs, LANCO and McBryde. All three artists are also nominated in the Male Artist of the Year, Group of the Year and Female Artist of the Year categories, respectively.

Carrie Underwood and each of the new artist winners Luke Combs, LANCO and Ashley McBryde will all perform on the show, joining previously announced ACM Awards performers including Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Brandi Carlile, Eric Church, Kelly Clarkson, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Reba McEntire, Maren Morris, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton and George Strait along with ACM Dick Clark Artist of the Decade Award honoree Jason Aldean.

Additional acts and presenters will be announced in the coming week. The awards telecast, hosted by Reba McEntire, will air LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 8:00 PM ET / delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

Tickets for the ceremony are available for purchase now at www.axs.com. For more information on the ACM Awards and all ACM events including ACM Party for a Cause®, visit ACMcountry.com. You can also like Academy of Country Music on Facebook or follow on Twitter and Instagram for more immediate updates.

About the Academy of Country Music Awards
The 54th Academy of Country Music Awards™ is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry. The show is produced for television by dick clark productions and will broadcast LIVE from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 8:00 PM ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. R.A. Clark, Reba McEntire, Barry Adelman and Mark Bracco are executive producers. Pete Fisher is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.

2019 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards: ‘Avengers: Infinity War,’ ‘Hotel Transylvania 3,’ ‘America’s Got Talent,’ Ariana Grande are top winners

March 23, 2018

With two awards each, the superhero film “Avengers: Infinity War,” the animated movie sequel “Hotel Transylvania 3,” the NBC reality series “America’s Got Talent” and singer Ariana Grande were the top winners at Nickelodeon’s 32nd annual Kids’ Choice Awards, which took place on March 23, 2019, at the Galen Center in Los Angeles, and was telecast by Nickelodeon.  DJ Khaled hosted the show for the first time.

Performers at the ceremony were Migos and the cast of “SpongeBob SquarePantsL The Musical.”

Presenters included Liza Koshy, Jason Sudeikis, Bebe Rexha, Janelle Monáe, Joey King, Jennifer Hudson, Kiernan Shipka, Josh Peck, Riel Downs, Jace Norman, Lilly Singhy, Caleb McLaughlin, Ryan ToysReview, Lana Condor, Shameik Moore, Daniella Perkins, Owen Joyner Lilimar Hernandez,

“Aladdin” stars Will Smith, Mena Massoud and Naomi Scott introduced a preview clip of the movie.  Meanwhile, Isabela Moner, Eugenio Derbez and Michael Peña showed a preview clip from their movie “Dora and the City of Lost Gold.” “The Secret Lives of Pets 2” stars Scarlet Spencer and Dallas Dupree Young did the same for their movie.The Kids’ Choice Awards show is famous for pouring green slime on unsuspecting celebrities. This year, the stars who got “slimed” were Chris Pratt, Smith, Josh Peck, David Dobrik, Adam Sandler, DJ Khaled and Monáe.

Nickelodeon’s 2019 Kids’ Choice Awards was produced by Nickelodeon Productions.  Elizabeth Kelly, Michael Dempsey and Jay Schmalholz were executive producers. Production of the show was overseen by Rob Bagshaw, Nickelodeon’s executive VP of unscripted content.

Stay up to date on all Kids’ Choice Awards news by liking Nickelodeon on Facebook and following @Nickelodeon on Twitter and Instagram.

The winners and nominees for Nickelodeon’s 2019 Kids’ Choice Awards are:

*=winner

FILM:

Favorite Movie

Aquaman

Avengers: Infinity War*

Black Panther

Mary Poppins Returns

The Kissing Booth

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before

 

Favorite Movie Actor

Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa/Black Panther, Black Panther)

Chris Evans (Steve Rogers/Captain America, Avengers: Infinity War)

Chris Hemsworth (Thor, Avengers: Infinity War)

Dwayne Johnson (Will Sawyer, Skyscraper)

Jason Momoa (Arthur Curry/Aquaman, Aquaman)

Noah Centineo (Peter Kavinsky, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before)*

 

Favorite Movie Actress

Emily Blunt (Mary Poppins, Mary Poppins Returns)

Joey King (Shelly “Elle” Evans, The Kissing Booth)*

Lupita Nyong’o (Nakia, Black Panther)

Rihanna (Nine Ball, Ocean’s 8)

Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Avengers: Infinity War)

Zoe Saldana (Gamora, Avengers: Infinity War)

 

Favorite Superhero*

Chadwick Boseman (T’Challa/Black Panther, Black Panther)

Chris Evans (Steve Rogers/Captain America, Avengers: Infinity War)

Chris Hemsworth (Thor, Avengers: Infinity War)

Jason Momoa (Arthur Curry/Aquaman, Aquaman)

Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark/Iron Man, Avengers: Infinity War)*

Scarlett Johansson (Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Avengers: Infinity War)

 

Favorite Butt-Kicker

Chris Pratt (Owen Grady, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom)*

Danai Gurira (Okoye, Black Panther)

Dwayne Johnson (Will Sawyer, Skyscraper)

Emilia Clarke (Qi’ra, Solo: A Star Wars Story)

Michael B. Jordan (Adonis Johnson, Creed II)

Zoe Saldana (Gamora, Avengers: Infinity War)

 

Favorite Animated Movie

The Grinch

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

Incredibles 2*

Peter Rabbit

Ralph Breaks the Internet

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

 

Favorite Male Voice from an Animated Movie

Adam Sandler (Dracula, Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation)*

Andy Samberg (Johnny, Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation)

Benedict Cumberbatch (Grinch, The Grinch)

Channing Tatum (Migo, Smallfoot)

James Corden (Peter Rabbit, Peter Rabbit)

Shameik Moore (Miles Morales/Spider-Man, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)

 

Favorite Female Voice from an Animated Movie

Gal Gadot (Shank, Ralph Breaks the Internet)

Hailee Steinfeld (Gwen Stacy/Spider-Gwen, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse)

Kristen Bell (Jade Wilson, Teen Titans GO! to the Movies)

Selena Gomez (Mavis, Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation)*

Yara Shahidi (Brenda, Smallfoot)

Zendaya (Meechee, Smallfoot)

 

MUSIC:

Favorite Music Group

The Chainsmokers

Fall Out Boy

Imagine Dragons

Maroon 5*

Migos

twenty one pilots

 

Favorite Male Artist

Bruno Mars

DJ Khaled

Drake

Justin Timberlake

Luke Bryan

Shawn Mendes*

 

Favorite Female Artist

Ariana Grande*

Beyoncé

Camila Cabello

Cardi B

Selena Gomez

Taylor Swift

 

Favorite Song

Delicate (Taylor Swift)

In My Blood (Shawn Mendes)

In My Feelings (Drake)

Natural (Imagine Dragons)

thank u, next (Ariana Grande)*

Youngblood (5 Seconds of Summer)

 

Favorite Breakout Artist

Billie Eilish*

Cardi B

Dan + Shay

Juice WRLD

Kane Brown

Post Malone

 

Favorite Collaboration

Girls Like You (Maroon 5, featuring Cardi B)

Happier (Marshmello, featuring Bastille)

I Like It (Cardi B, Bad Bunny, J Balvin)

Meant to Be (Bebe Rexha, featuring Florida Georgia Line)

No Brainer (DJ Khaled, featuring Justin Bieber, Chance the Rapper, Quavo)*

SICKO MODE (Travis Scott, featuring Drake)

 

Favorite Social Music Star

Baby Ariel

Chloe x Halle

Jack & Jack

JoJo Siwa*

Max & Harvey

Why Don’t We

 

Favorite Global Music Star

Africa: Davido

Asia: BLACKPINK

Australia/New Zealand: Troye Sivan

Europe: David Guetta

North America: Taylor Swift*

Latin America: J Balvin

United Kingdom: HRVY

 

TELEVISION:

Favorite Funny TV Show

The Big Bang Theory

BUNK’D

Fuller House*

Henry Danger

Modern Family

Raven’s Home

 

Favorite TV Drama

A Series of Unfortunate Events

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

The Flash

Riverdale*

Stranger Things

The Walking Dead

 

Favorite Reality Show

America’s Got Talent*

American Idol

American Ninja Warrior

Dancing with the Stars: Juniors

Double Dare

The Voice

 

Favorite TV Host

Ellen DeGeneres (Ellen’s Game of Games)*

Kevin Hart (TKO: Total Knock Out)

Liza Koshy & Marc Summers (Double Dare)

Nick Cannon & JoJo Siwa (Lip Sync Battle Shorties)

Ryan Seacrest (American Idol)

Tyra Banks (America’s Got Talent)

 

Favorite TV Judges

Simon Cowell, Mel B, Heidi Klum, Howie Mandel (America’s Got Talent)*

Luke Bryan, Katy Perry, Lionel Richie (American Idol)

Len Goodman, Bruno Tonioli, Carrie Ann Inaba, (Dancing with the Stars)

Sean “Diddy” Combs, DJ Khaled, Meghan Trainor (THE FOUR: BATTLE FOR STARDOM)

Kelly Clarkson, Jennifer Hudson, Adam Levine, Blake Shelton (The Voice)

Jennifer Lopez, Derek Hough, NE-YO (World of Dance)

 

Favorite Cartoon

ALVINNN!!! and The Chipmunks

The Boss Baby: Back in Business

The Loud House

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

SpongeBob SquarePants*

Teen Titans Go!

 

Favorite Male TV Star

Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair, Stranger Things)

Grant Gustin (Barry Allen/The Flash, The Flash)

Jace Norman (Henry Hart/Kid Danger, Henry Danger)*

Jim Parsons (Sheldon Cooper, The Big Bang Theory)

Karan Brar (Ravi Ross, BUNK’D)

Neil Patrick Harris (Count Olaf, A Series of Unfortunate Events)

 

Favorite Female TV Star

Candace Cameron Bure (DJ Tanner-Fuller, Fuller House)

Kaley Cuoco (Penny, The Big Bang Theory)

Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven, Stranger Things)

Peyton Elizabeth Lee (Andi Mack, Andi Mack)

Raven-Symoné (Raven Baxter, Raven’s Home)

Zendaya (K.C. Cooper, K.C. Undercover)*

 

OTHER CATEGORIES:

Favorite Video Game

Just Dance 2019*

LEGO® The Incredibles

Marvel’s Spider-Man

Super Smash Bros.™ Ultimate

Super Mario Party™

 

Favorite Social Star

David Dobrik*

Emma Chamberlain

Guava Juice

Lilly Singh

Miranda Sings

Ryan ToysReview

 

Favorite Gamer

DanTDM

Jacksepticeye

Markiplier

Ninja

PopularMMOs

SSSniperWolf*

 

How Do You Want to Help? 

Help People in Need (homes, food and more)

Help Schools (supplies, STEM and more)

Help the Environment (clean water, recycling and more)

Help Animals (rescue, wildlife and more)*

Help Prevent Bullying (positivity, respect and more)

Food Network announces Buddy Valastro show ‘Bake You Rich,’ Duff Goldman show ‘Duff Takes the Cake’

March 20, 2019

Buddy Valastro and Duff Goldman
Buddy Valastro and Duff Goldman (Photo courtesy of Food Network)

The following are press releases from Food Network:

As a fourth-generation baker, Buddy Valastro is known as one of the biggest names in the industry, taking his local bakery and building it into an international empire. Now, Buddy is paying it forward on new series Bake You Rich, as he gives the opportunity of a lifetime to professional pastry chefs as they compete to have their treats produced by the Cake Boss and sold on Carlo’s Bakery website immediately following each episode. The four-episode series kicks off on Sunday, April 14th at 10pm ET/PT, as four bakers whip up delectable and innovative treats in three rounds of challenges that will test their baking and business skills to prove to Buddy and a panel of rotating judges including Chad Durkin, Erin McGinn,Vincent Tubito, and Buddy’s wife Lisa Valastro that their treats will rise to the top. But, only one talented baker in each episode will cream the competition and go into business with Buddy.
“Bake You Rich is unlike any other baking competition, showcasing all the elements that are required for a top-selling bakery item, beyond creating a delicious dessert,” said Courtney White, President, Food Network. “Buddy Valastro is the ultimate expert with decades of experience, and he brings his unique business savvy as the host and business partner for the lucky winners.”

In each episode, four entrepreneurial bakers battle it out by whipping up their signature desserts that also impress aesthetically. Three bakers move on to the next round, where they present an innovative item they think will hit it big time in the bakery. Finally, in the last round, the remaining two must mass produce their item using professional machinery at Carlo’s Bakery. It’s a tough decision for Buddy and his advisors. Will the challenges be as easy as pie, or will the bakers crumble as they face difficult obstacles like machine meltdowns, mass production portion control, and last-minute recipe changes? One baker will have their dreams come true by the Cake Boss, as their winning item will be available to order on Carlo’s Bakery website immediately following the episode.
Fans can follow #BakeYouRich on our social media channels to learn Buddy’s best cake decorating techniques, watch behinds-the-scenes challenges, and weigh in on their favorite creations. Also, learn more about Buddy and his advisors at FoodNetwork.com/BakeYouRich.
Bake You Rich is produced by Cakehouse Media.
For years Duff Goldman has designed top-tier cakes for renowned clients that are beyond their wildest imaginations. Now, the Ace of Cakes star is using his artistry to create amazing, showstopping cakes for deserving people on Duff Takes the Cake. Beginning on Monday, April 15 at 10 p.m., Duff and his A-team of talented designers, builders, and cake decorators are engineering epic creations for good-hearted people serving their communities to celebrate special milestones. In five half-hour episodes, Duff and his team work around the clock to meet impossible deadlines, defeat design challenges, and overcome delivery obstacles, but the reactions to their incredible designs are always the icing on the cake!
“Viewers will be amazed by the unrestrained creativity and ingenuity of the one-of-a-kind, impressive cake designs that Duff and his extraordinary team of artists create,” said Courtney White, President, Food Network. “No job is too big, and no detail is too small adding a mix of intensity and entertaining comedy to the series.”
 
Throughout the series, Duff and his team transform last-minute, heartfelt requests into innovative cakes in just days, often facing unforeseeable challenges. From birthday cakes for kids who survived the Northern California wildfires, to an aquarium-themed cake to celebrate the hardworking volunteers at a local aquarium, and to very personal cakes for Duff’s wedding reception, each one will require meticulous detail. Making it even more challenging, every cake must be intact and on time to some wild delivery locations. From an ice-cold plunge in a frozen mountain lake, to a fireworks festival in Los Angeles’ Chinatown, and even the middle of a rodeo arena surrounded by 2000-pound bulls, nothing is too crazy as Duff Takes the Cake!
 
Fans can watch Duff take on wild culinary challenges by following #DuffTakestheCake and can get his inside tips to hone your baking skills. Plus, learn all about Duff at FoodNetwork.com/DuffTakestheCake.

Disney completes acquisition of Fox entertainment assets

March 20, 2019

by Carla Hay

Walt Disney Company 21st Century Fox logos

The Walt Disney Company has completed its $71 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox’s entertainment assets, which include movie studio 20th Century Fox, production company Fox 21 Television Studios, movie studio Fox Searchlight, FX Networks, National Geographic Partners and Blue Sky Studios. The acquisition now makes Disney the world’s largest entertainment company. Disney also owns Marvel Studios, Pixar, Lucasfilm and ABC. The deal was first announced in December 2017.

News Corp., which sold off most of its Fox entertainment assets, is still retaining ownership of Fox News, the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox-owned local TV stations, Fox Sports, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post. As a result of the acquisition, News Corp. has changed its name to Fox Corp., and the Fox Broadcasting Company (whose TV shows include “The Simpsons,” “Empire,” “Hell’s Kitchen” and “The Masked Singer”) will be operated by the newly formed Fox Entertainment.

Disney’s acquisition of 21st Century Fox means that Disney now owns movie assets such as the “X-Men” series, the “Deadpool” series, the “Fantastic Four” series and the “Avatar” series. Fox’s other blockbuster movie hits in recent decades include “Titanic” (jointly owned with Paramount Pictures), “Bohemian Rhapsody,” the “Planet of the Apes” series, the “Ice Age” series, the “Alien” series and the “Predator” series.

A merger of this magnitude will result in new leadership and thousands of employee layoffs. Most of the job cuts are expected to be at the Fox companies that were acquired by Disney.

So what does this Disney/Fox mega-merger mean for consumers?

Disney will now have even more content for its streaming service Disney+, which is expected to launch before the end of 2019. Disney+ has not yet announced its content, but the Disney+ service is poised to become the biggest threat to Netflix, since Disney can exercise exclusive rights to have Disney content on its own streaming service. That means it’s only a matter of time before Netflix will lose Disney-owned blockbuster films such as Marvel superhero movies, the “Star Wars” series, the “Pirates of Caribbean” series and Pixar films, such as “The Incredibles” and “Toy Story.” Netflix has already canceled its original Marvel superhero series “Daredevil,” “The Punisher,” “Luke Cage” and “Jessica Jones.”

Logan, Deadpool, Iron Man, Black Panther, Disney, Marvel, 21st Century Fox
(Image courtesy of Marvel Entertainment)

As for TV series that originally aired on other networks, Disney-owned series such as “Grey’s Anatomy” and FX series such as “American Horror Story” might no longer be available on Netflix once Netflix’s licensing agreements expire with those shows.

Because of the Disney/Fox merger, Disney now owns 60 percent of Hulu, which could mean that Hulu will get much of the Disney/Fox content that Netflix currently has. It’s unclear how much longer Hulu will exist, now that Disney+ is going to launch. It’s possible that the Disney+ service will be a more family-oriented brand, allowing Hulu to have Fox content that is edgier and more adult-oriented.

Unlike Disney, Fox releases numerous R-rated movies, and that is not expected to change. It’s unknown at this point what the fate will be for Fox Searchlight, which is a boutique studio that has a stellar track record of releasing Oscar-caliber films, including Best Picture winners “The Shape of Water” and “12 Years a Slave.”

Fox 21 Television Studios’ current TV series are mostly on the FX network (“American Horror Story,” “American Crime Story,” “Feud,” “Pose,” “Mayans M.C.”), while a few are on Showtime (“Homeland,” “The Chi”) and other networks, such as National Geographic’s “Genius,” USA Network’s “Queen of the South” and Netflix’s “The Politician.”

Disney’s theme parks will also be affected by the Fox acquisition. Don’t be surprised if attractions related to “X-Men,” “Ice Age” and/or “Planet of the Apes” are added. In 2017, Disney added an “Avatar” attraction at Disney World in Florida.

Although critics of the Disney/Fox deal say that less competition is not good for consumers, this type of corporate consolidation is a reality that is here to stay. (The Disney/Fox merger comes on the heels of AT&T’s 2018 acquisition of several former Time Warner entertainment assets, including Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television Studios and Turner.) There may be more entertainment content than ever before, but the number of corporations owning the content has gotten much smaller.

2019 Daytime Emmy Awards: ‘Days of Our Lives’ is the top nominee

March 20, 2019

by Carla Hay

Daytime Emmy Awards

"Days of our Lives"
“Days of our Lives” (Photo courtesy of NBCUniversal)

With 27 nominations, NBC’s “Days of Our Lives” is the leading contender for the 46th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards, which will be presented at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in California on May 5, 2019. The Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards (for mostly technical categories) will take place at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium on May 3, 2019. The Daytime Emmys website will have a livestream of the ceremony.

The nominations for “Days of Our Lives” include Outstanding Drama Series;  Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama  Series (Tyler Christopher, Billy Flynn); Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Marci Miller); Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Eric Martsolf, Greg Rikaart); and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Kassie DePaiva, Lindsey Godfrey, Martha Madison).

ABC’s “General Hospital” follows close behind with 25 nominations, including several categories where “Days of Our Lives” is also nominated. In addition to Outstanding Drama series, “General Hospital” received nods for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama  Series (Maurice Benard, Jon Lindstrom); Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Maura West, Laura Wright); Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Max Gail, Dominic Zamprogna); and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Vernee Watson).

CBS’s “The Young and the Restless” garnered 20 nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series; Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama  Series (Peter Bergman); Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (Bryton James); and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series (Beth Maitland, Mishael Morgan).

The other nominee for Outstanding Drama Series is CBS’s “The Bold and the Beautiful,” which has 12 nominations, including two nods for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series (Heather Tom, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood).

The nominees for Outstanding Morning Program are, predictably, “CBS Sunday Morning,” “CBS This Morning,” “Good Morning America” and “Today.”

In the category of Outstanding Informative Talk Show, the nominees are “Access Live,” “Dr. Oz,” “Rachael Ray,” “Red Table Talk” and “Today Show With Kathie Lee and Hoda.” Outstanding Informative Talk Show Host nominees are Rachael Ray for her self-titled show; Dr. Mehmet Oz of “Dr. Oz”; Kellie Pickler and Ben Aaron of “Pickler and Ben”; Kathie Lee and Hoda Kotb of “Today With Kathie Lee and Hoda”; and Steve Harvey of “Steve.”

The nominees for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show are shows that are all hosted by women: “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “A Little Help With Carol Burnett,” “The Real,” “The Talk” and “The Real.” Meanwhile, the nominees for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host are nearly all women: the hosts of “The Talk,” “The Real” and “The View,” as well as Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest of “Live With Kelly and Ryan”; and Wendy Williams of “The Wendy Williams Show.” (Ellen DeGeneres took herself out of the running for Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host many years ago after she kept winning in this category several years in a row.)

Outstanding Entertainment News Program nominees are “Access,” “DailyMailTV,” “Entertainment Tonight,” “Extra” and “Inside Edition.”

Nominees for the category of Outstanding Game Show are “Family Feud” “Jeopardy!” “Let’s Make a Deal” “The Price Is Right” and “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” Meanwhile, the nominees for Outstanding Game Show Host are Wayne Brady of “Let’s Make a Deal,” Chris Harrison of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” John Michael Higgins of “America Says,” Pat Sajak of “Wheel of Fortune” and Alex Trebek of “Jeopardy.”

Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program nominees are “Couples Court With the Cutlers,” “Judge Judy,” “Judge Mathis,” “Lauren Lake’s Paternity Court” and “The People’s Court.”

The Daytime Emmy Awards are presented to individuals and programs broadcast in the United States from 2 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the previous calendar year.

The 46th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards is a presentation of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Both of this year’s shows will be led by executive producer David Michaels (NATAS senior VP of daytime) and executive producer David Parks of Ignition Entertainment.

A complete list of nominations for the 2019 Daytime Emmy Awards can be found here.

2019 Lollapalooza Festival: Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino, Twenty One Pilots are headliners

March 20, 2019

Ariana Grande, Childish Gambino and Twenty One Pilots are headlining the Lollapalooza Festival that takes place at Chicago’s Grant Field from August 1 to August 4, 2019.

Lollapalooza is promoted by C3 Presents. Other artists performing at the festival include the Strokes, Tame Impala, Flume, the Chainsmokers, J Balvin, Kacey Musgraves, Lil Wayne, Janelle Monáe, Meek Mill, Tenacious D, 21 Savage, Death Cab for Cutie, H.E.R., Perry Farrell’s Kind Heaven Orchestra, the Revivalists, Alesso, Slash, RL Grime, Hozier, Gary Clark Jr. and 6lack.

Grande, Childish Gambino and Tame Impala are headliners at the 2019 Coachella Festival, which is promoted by Goldenvoice. Childish Gambino is also performing at the 2019 Bonnaroo Festival, which is promoted by Superfly.

Lollapalooza 2019

Woodstock 50: The Killers, Dead & Company, Jay-Z are headlining the festival

March 19, 2019

by Carla Hay

Woodstock 50 has announced that the Killers, Dead & Company and Jay-Z are headlining the festival, which takes place at Watkins Glen International race track in Watkins Glen, New York, from August  16 to August 18, 2019. The event is a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the original Woodstock Festival. Woodstock 50 is produced by Woodstock Ventures, whose founder is original Woodstock promoter Michael Lang.

Woodstock 50’s lineup, which is dominated by male rock artists, will also include several of the original Woodstock Festival performers, including Santana, David Crosby, members of the Grateful Dead, John Fogerty, Canned Heat, John Sebastian, Country Joe McDonald and Melanie.

Other artists who will be performing at Woodstock 50 include the Raconteurs, Miley Cyrus, Robert Plant and the Sensational Shape Shifters, Chance the Rapper, the Black Keys, Imagine Dragons, Cage the Elephant, Sturgill Simpson, Greta Van Fleet and Brandi Carlile.

Woodstock 50’s lineup is not as iconic or diverse as many people had expected. Electronic dance music and country are two genres of music that are huge at festivals, but EDM and country are almost ignored at Woodstock 50. And even the rock music at Woodstock 50 isn’t very diverse: It falls into two categories: classic rock and alternative/modern rock. There are almost no heavy metal or punk acts on the bill. Women of color are also noticeably under-represented in the Woodstock 50 artist lineup (Halsey, Janelle Monáe and India.Arie are the most well-known women of color performing at the event), and the few rappers who are performing at Woodstock 50 are all male.

The original Woodstock Festival took place August 15 to 18, 1969, and had an estimated attendance of 400,000 people. Artists on the bill included Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, Santana and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The original Woodstock Festival is widely considered to be the most important live music event of the 1960s. The official “Woodstock” documentary film won an Oscar.

A 25th anniversary Woodstock Festival called Woodstock ’94 took place in 1994 in Saugerties, New York. The performers included Aerosmith, Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, Green Day, Bob Dylan, Santana, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Crosby, Stills & Nash. A more controversial 30th anniversary Woodstock Festival (which included numerous incidents of assaults, vandalism, theft and arson) called Woodstock ’99 took place in 1999 in Rome, New York. Woodstock ’99’s lineup included Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Bush, Korn, Limp Bizkit, Santana, Creed, Megadeth, the Chemical Brothers and Alanis Morissette.

So why are there very few superstar acts performing at Woodstock 50? A lot has changed in the concert industry since 1999. There are now more star-studded festivals than ever before, and people expect more diversity at festivals that are supposed to be represent several genres of music. In addition, the rise of mega-festivals such as Coachella (the world’s largest-grossing music festival), iHeartRadio and Bonnaroo has meant that people expect A-list talent every year at many of these events. And the fees for A-list entertainers have skyrocketed since Woodstock ’99, which is probably the biggest reason why there are few superstar acts on the Woodstock 50 bill.

Woodstock 50 is also competing against the Bethel Woods Music and Culture Festival, produced by Bethel Woods Center for the Arts,  Live Nation and brand communications agency INVNT. The Bethel Woods Music and Culture Festival will take place August 15 to August 17, 2019, at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts (the site of the original Woodstock Festival) in Bethel Woods, New York. The Bethel Woods event has a lineup that leans heavily toward classic rock, with performers that include Carlos Santana, Ringo Starr, Arlo Guthrie, the Doobie Brothers and Edgar Winter. Woodstock 50’s Watkins Glen venue is larger (with a capacity of 39,000) than the Bethel Woods venue, which has a capacity of about 15,000. But since Woodstock 50 and the Bethel Woods Music and Culture Festival are both vying for the same core audience (rock fans who want huge doses of 1969 Woodstock nostalgia), that overlap is bound to affect ticket sales and enthusiasm for both events.

2019 ACM Awards: Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Kelly Clarkson, Florida Georgia Line, Brandi Carlile added to lineup of performers

March 19, 2019

ACM Awards

The following is a press release from the Academy of Country Music:

The Academy of Country Music® announced today that Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Brandi Carlile, Eric Church, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Combs, Dan + Shay, Florida Georgia Line and Ashley McBryde have been added to the powerful lineup of performers for the 54th Academy of Country Music Awards, Country Music’s Party of the Year®. The awards telecast, hosted by Reba McEntire, will air LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 8:00 PM ET / delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.

Previously announced ACM Awards performers include Brothers Osborne, Kane Brown, Miranda Lambert, Little Big Town, Reba McEntire, Maren Morris, Thomas Rhett, Chris Stapleton and George Strait along with ACM Dick Clark Artist of the Decade Award honoree Jason Aldean. Additional acts and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets for the ceremony are available for purchase now at www.axs.com. For more information on the ACM Awards and all ACM events including ACM Party for a Cause®, visit ACMcountry.com. Ultimate ACM Awards® VIP Experience and the Ultimate ACM Awards VIP Travel Packages are available from CID Entertainment. You can also like Academy of Country Music on Facebook or follow on Twitter and Instagram for more immediate updates.

About the Academy of Country Music Awards
The 54th Academy of Country Music Awards™ is dedicated to honoring and showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country music industry. The show is produced for television by dick clark productions and will broadcast LIVE from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 8:00 PM ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network. R.A. Clark, Reba McEntire, Barry Adelman and Mark Bracco are executive producers. Pete Fisher is executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.

2019 Tony Awards: James Corden named host of the show

March 19, 2019

Tony Awards logo

James Corden
James Corden (Photo by Paul Drinkwater/NBC)

The following is a press release from the Tony Awards:

The American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards have announced that Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor, and host of CBS’ “The Late Late Show,” James Corden, will host the 73rd Annual Tony® Awards, airing LIVE on Sunday, June 9, 2019 (8:00PM ET / delayed PT) from Radio City Music Hall in New York City on CBS. This marks Corden’s second time hosting The Tony Awards.  Corden previously hosted the 70thAnnual Tony Awards, which won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Special Class Program.  Corden also won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for his 2012 performance in “One Man. Two Guvnors.”

“I’m thrilled to be returning to host the Tony Awards, the Broadway community is very dear to my heart and I’m beyond proud to be part of this incredibly special night,” said James Corden.

“James is not only a beloved talent, he is also a veteran of the stage and has a true passion for Broadway,” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of The Broadway League, and Heather Hitchens, President of the American Theatre Wing. “We cannot wait to see what he has in store for us this year at the Tony Awards!”

“Hilarious. Insanely talented.  Musical savant. Brilliantly unpredictable. James Corden!” exclaimed executive producers Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss.

“We are thrilled to have the one and only James Corden return to host his second Tony Awards,” said Jack Sussman, Executive Vice President, Specials, Music and Live Events, CBS Entertainment. “James is the ultimate master of ceremonies to lead a night of live event television, celebrating live theater. He is an incredibly charming host, brilliant performer and fearless on stage – with James, anything can happen, and probably will!”

James Corden is an Emmy Award-winning, multifaceted performer, host, writer and producer with accomplishments that span television, theater, film and comedy. Individually, Corden has won seven Emmy Awards, for his work on “The Late Late Show,” the “Carpool Karaoke” series for Apple Music, and “The 70th Annual Tony Awards.” Since he took over as host of “The Late Late Show” on March 23, 2015, the show itself has won five Emmys, a Critic’s Choice Award for Best Talk Show, has achieved its highest ratings since the show’s inception in 1995, and has become known for Corden’s groundbreaking videos and sketches, including the viral segments “Carpool Karaoke,” “Crosswalk the Musical,” “Drop the Mic” and “Spill Your Guts or Fill Your Guts.” Additionally, Corden hosted the Grammy Awards in 2017 and 2018. Also, he won the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for his performance in “One Man, Two Guvnors” in 2012.

Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment will return as executive producers. Weiss will also serve as director for the 20th consecutive year.  Ben Winston is a producer.

Nominations for the 2019 Tony Awards will be announced live from The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center on April 30, 2019.

For more information on the Tony Awards, visit TonyAwards.com and Facebook.com/TheTonyAwards and follow @TheTonyAwards on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat.

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About the Tony Awards

The American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing. At The Broadway League, Thomas Schumacher is Chairman and Charlotte St. Martin is President. At the American Theatre Wing, David Henry Hwang is Chair and Heather A. Hitchens is President & CEO. Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss of White Cherry Entertainment are the Executive Producers of the 2019 Tony Awards. Mr. Weiss will also serve as Director of the 2019 Tony Awards.

Sponsors for Tony Awards include: Carnegie Mellon University – the first-ever, exclusive higher education partner; City National – official bank of the Tony Awards and presenting sponsor of the Creative Arts Awards; Sofitel New York – the official hotel of the Tony Awards; Rainbow Room – official partner of the Tony Nominee Luncheon; United Airlines – the official airline of the Tony Awards for the last 18 years and People/Entertainment Weekly – official magazine partners of the Tony Awards.